Perhaps the most common question we get here at overwaterbungalows.net is: Are there any overwater bungalows in the Caribbean?
The answer is “yes” but until 2013 it’s still a bit of a disappointment to many. The fact is, all of the water bungalows in the Caribbean are down in Central America, and almost all of them are modest “eco-resorts” where there are few frills of any kind.
They are ideal for scuba divers and those looking for some outdoor adventures, but they aren’t perfect for most honeymooners and romantic travelers who want to spend time alone.
I’ve written a longer explanation of all-inclusive overwater bungalow resorts, but this seems to be an extremely common question so I’ve decided to offer a short and simple explanation that should help people find exactly what they are looking for more quickly.
It’s no secret that these overwater bungalow and water villa resorts are expensive, so it appears that many people are very interested in knowing almost exactly how much the holiday will cost before they choose a resort.
You may not yet know that Sandals is a chain of about 20 resorts all over the Caribbean and 3 of those resorts have the regions first “honeymoon-style” overwater bungalows. With a name like Sandals you might also not expect that this is a very high-end chain of all-inclusive resorts, but that’s exactly what it is.
The overwater bungalows start around US$3,000 per night and I had a chance to visit them at two of Sandals’ Jamaica resorts on a recent press trip.
So you’ve decided to book one of Sandals’ amazing Caribbean overwater bungalows? Congratulations on being ready to book a romantic trip of a lifetime! As of 2019 Sandals has three excellent resorts that offer overwater bungalows and each is quite different so it’s important to choose the one that fits your needs the best.
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit all three Sandals overwater bungalows resorts and tour the bungalows as well, so I thought it would be helpful to discuss the pros and cons of each of them to help people decide with confidence.
Jamaica is one of the Caribbean’s most popular islands, especially for all-inclusive resorts, and starting late in 2016 it also became the region’s capital of overwater bungalows. There are now two amazing overwater bungalow resorts on Jamaica, and we are hoping to welcome more in the future.
Fans of all-inclusive resorts will be happy to hear that both of the Jamaican resorts are part of the famous luxury Sandals chain, so guests pay one price and nearly everything they can think of (including premium items and excursions) is included.
We are constantly asked if there are any of those amazing overwater bungalow resorts in the Caribbean, and many people are disappointed to learn that there are only a few options that come close to what you would find in the South Pacific and the Maldives.
With this said, there are some good options for budget seekers off of the Caribbean coast of Panama. Most of these hotels, lodges, and resorts tend to focus more on nature and being as eco-friendly as possible than on luxuries, so they’re certainly not for everyone.
Honduras is definitely a country on the upswing with its tourism industry, featuring excellent weather most of the year in addition to extremely reasonable prices for everything. The islands just off the coast of Honduras even contain 3 eco-resorts that have overwater bungalows, though they aren’t a proper substitute for the honeymoon-style resorts in Bora Bora of the Maldives.
If you are looking for a deluxe 4-star or above room with air conditioning and an entertainment center then you won’t find such a thing anywhere but French Polynesia or the Maldives, but those who are looking for an active vacation and affordable all-inclusive rates will find a few very good choices here.
When many of us think of a tropical winter vacation, we immediately think of Mexico, so it’s no wonder that quite a few people hope to find overwater bungalows in the country. There’s a bit of good news here as there are two resorts in Mexico that feature overwater villas, one of which is considered all-inclusive.
The problem is that overwater bungalows, or water villas, as they are called in many parts of the world, can only be built over still water.
we first had the idea to create a worldwide directory of every overwater resort in the world, we honestly assumed there were about 20 or maybe 30 of these places. It turned out we underestimated by quite a bit, and since new ones keep opening up, the number keeps getting higher and higher.
A couple months ago I wrote a post called where are overwater bungalows, which lists all the major spots in the world where you can find these things.
Happened to all of us. We see a photo of an overwater bungalow (or a water villa, as they are called in much of the world) and we immediately daydream about spending a holiday in one ourselves. There’s something both romantic and private about these hotel rooms, which is one reason that they are incredibly popular for honeymoons and anniversary trips.
One complication is that overwater bungalows are found in only a few parts of the world, almost all of which are a long way from the people who’d like to stay in them.